JP4820161B2 - Manufacturing method of blade for electrophotographic apparatus and blade for electrophotographic apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a multilayer blade for an electrophotographic apparatus using an elastic rubber made of a synthetic resin. The present invention relates to a blade used in an electrophotographic copying machine, a printer, a facsimile, and the like and a manufacturing method thereof, and more particularly, to a blade made of thermosetting polyurethane and a manufacturing method thereof.

Conventionally, for toner cleaning in the electrophotographic system, a blade cleaning system made of synthetic resin, which has advantages such as downsizing of the apparatus and cost, is widely used.
The blade has a long life (wear resistance), low torque = low power consumption (low μ), cleaning of small-diameter toner, countermeasures against abnormal noise at high temperatures by expanding the use environment range, and low cleaning performance at low temperatures Countermeasures, countermeasures for deterioration in cleaning properties due to settling in a long-term pressure contact state at high temperatures, etc. are required.
In recent years, the number of models using so-called spherical toner, which is a substantially spherical toner, is increasing for reasons such as image quality improvement due to colorization. This spherical toner tends to enter the gap on the wedge of the cleaning edge and pushes the edge upward. It is becoming easier to slip through.
As the speed of the apparatus increases, the requirements for the cleaning blade are becoming more and more complex.

  It is difficult to satisfy all of these requirements with a single, single-layer material for these requirements, and the past cleaning blade is made into a multi-layer structure, and the required characteristics are divided and handled by multiple types of materials. Various methods have been proposed as the preferred method.

The method of making the cleaning blade into a multilayer structure is classified and shown below.
A surface coating method has been proposed in which the surface is treated with a coating agent and modified (for example, Patent Document 1: JP 2001-356666 A). This is an example of a blade rubber member obtained by laminating a second layer by applying a liquid raw material to the surface layer of a plate-like polyurethane sheet (first layer) molded by centrifugal molding, followed by heat curing. . This blade material forming process is two steps, which is costly. In addition, productivity is lower than conventional single-layer blades.
As a coating method, there is a method using a dipping method (for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-46145). This method requires a long pot life of the coating liquid in order to use the same coating liquid repeatedly. The equipment becomes large-scale in order to keep the physical properties (viscosity, solid content ratio, etc.) of the coating liquid constant. Masking is necessary, and it is necessary to attach and detach the masking before and after applying and drying the coating solution, and automation is difficult. The spray coating method is superior to dipping in terms of pot life because the coating solution is used up, but the coating efficiency is poor and masking is also required. In addition, the film tends to vary depending on the environment such as temperature and humidity. It is difficult to make the width and thickness of the coating layer uniform by a coating method using a dispenser. In particular, when used for a cleaning blade, it tends to cause a problem in edge accuracy.

Centrifugal Forming Method, Laminating Method There is a method of forming two layers by centrifugal molding (see, for example, Patent Document 3: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-184462 [0074]). Also, there is a method (for example, Patent Document 4: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 60-165682) in which rubber members made separately are bonded together. The method of bonding separately molded rubber members is difficult to bond evenly by adhesion processing. In the case of centrifugal molding, the thickness accuracy of each layer is low due to rotational blur of the centrifugal molding machine, variation in the amount of material to be injected, instability of flatness due to the influence of the curing reaction rate, and the like. (Normally, thickness variation in centrifugal molding is 0.1 mm in the range.)
Centrifugal molding results in a blade with two layers on the entire surface. However, if the variation is large, the variation in the high hardness portion leads to the variation in the pressure contact force in the design of two layers of the high hardness portion and the low hardness portion.

The split mold method In the method of casting different materials after assembling, it is possible to touch the front and back, but it is impossible to partially provide a part of the surface. The blade has a large change in physical properties, and the blade has high / low pressure contact force and is not stable.

Method of impregnating and modifying rubber with another material Masking unnecessary parts of the polyurethane blade, impregnating the polyurethane blade with polycyanoacrylate, isocyanate, water, silicon, etc., and then reacting and curing by heating etc., near the blade edge A method of improving the performance as a cleaning blade by changing the quality of the material (increasing hardness, changing viscoelastic properties, changing friction coefficient, etc.) has been proposed (for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-46145). No., Patent Document 5: JP-A No. 2004-233818).
In this manufacturing method, not only the process is added but costs increase, but there is a problem in productivity. In terms of quality, when the liquid material is impregnated, the amount permeated in the depth direction of the rubber changes. For this reason, even if masking is performed, unnecessary portions are processed, the processed density is inclined in the depth direction, or unevenness occurs. Subtle adjustment is difficult. Further, since the swelling phenomenon of rubber is used, the treated part is swollen, the balance with the untreated part is lost, the edge is wavy, warped, and deformed easily.
For example, the present applicant also describes a multilayer coating on a surface coating exemplified in Patent Document 6: JP-A-9-127847, Patent Document 7: JP-A 2002-214990, and Patent Document 8: JP-A-11-212414. We have researched and proposed methods, centrifugal molding methods, impregnation methods, etc.

JP 2001-356666 A JP 2004-46145 A JP 2004-184462 A JP-A-60-165682 JP 2004-233818 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-127846 JP 2002-214990 A JP-A-11-212414

  The present invention provides a partially different type of multilayered synthetic resin blade material and a method for producing blades used in an electrophotographic apparatus, and provides a multilayer blade material and blade with stable quality. That is, among various blade materials and blade manufacturing methods, the only method that can significantly change the synthetic resin used as the base and the synthetic resin material of the partial layer is only the bonding method. It is a modification that partially modifies the surface, and it was difficult to impart a function to the blade or to greatly improve the cleaning property. However, with the laminating method, it is difficult to stably and evenly bond synthetic resins of different materials by adhesive processing, and the durability at the blade is inferior to the strength of the interface between different types of synthetic resins compared to integral molding. Is inferior. Therefore, it is desirable to easily produce blade materials that are partially layered with different types of synthetic resins. Once this technology is completed, new functions will be added to the blade, and the cleaning performance will be greatly improved. It becomes possible to improve.

In order to solve such a problem, the present invention provides a liquid composition for forming a partial layer in a position corresponding to the partial layer in a method for forming a blade for an electrophotographic apparatus using two or more different liquid synthetic resins as raw materials for molding. After the resin is applied and cast in a bead shape, a mold is assembled, a liquid synthetic resin for forming a different base is cast, and a blade material and blade are obtained by heating and curing both resins simultaneously. is there.
In this application, a tape-shaped synthetic resin elastic material that is not coupled to the support member is referred to as a blade material, and a state that is coupled to the support member is referred to as a blade.
The main solution of the present invention is as follows.

(1) In the method for producing a material for a multilayer blade for an electrophotographic apparatus, after casting a liquid synthetic resin forming a partial layer in one mold of a split mold in a bead shape having a cross section of an arc, A method for producing a blade material, comprising: assembling a mold, casting a liquid synthetic resin forming a base layer, and simultaneously heating and curing both resins to form a blade material.
(2) In a method for producing a multilayer blade for an electrophotographic apparatus, a mold is assembled by casting a liquid synthetic resin forming a partial layer into a bead shape having a cross section of an arc in one mold of a split mold. Then, a liquid synthetic resin as a base is cast , and both the resins are simultaneously heat-cured to integrally mold the blade material on the support.
(3) The blade material according to (1) or the method for producing the blade according to (2), wherein the partial layer shape is formed in an arcuate cross-sectional shape.
(4) The blade material or the method for producing a blade according to any one of (1) to (3), wherein the blade material is a cleaning blade.
(5) The blade material or the method for producing a blade according to any one of (1) to (3), which is a developing blade.
(6) The blade material or the method for producing a blade according to any one of (1) to (3), wherein the blade material is a charging blade.
(7) A blade material or a method of manufacturing a blade using a split mold,
A synthetic resin supply means having a discharge head for casting and applying a raw liquid synthetic resin to one mold surface in a bead shape and a discharge head for discharging a liquid synthetic resin as a base ,
The ejection head to be cast and applied in a bead shape is fixed at a fixed position and the blade mold is conveyed in the longitudinal direction, or the ejection head to be cast and applied in a bead shape is fixed to the longitudinal direction have a means for transporting direction,
After casting the liquid synthetic resin that has an arc-shaped cross section and forms a partial layer in a bead shape, mold the mold, cast the liquid synthetic resin that forms the base layer, and heat and cure both resins simultaneously. A blade material or a method of manufacturing a blade.
(8) The method for producing a blade material or blade according to any one of (1) to (7), wherein the liquid synthetic resin is a non-solvent type thermosetting polyurethane resin.
(9) In the electrophotographic apparatus blade integrally molded with the hardening of the liquid resin for forming the blade material for electrophotographic apparatus, the metal support member,
The blade material is formed by simultaneously molding, curing and laminating liquid non-solvent type thermosetting polyurethane raw materials of different compositions,
A synthetic resin material in which the arc-shaped partial layer and the other base layer are different in the longitudinal direction ,
An electrophotographic blade material or an electrophotographic blade, wherein the partial layer is an edge portion or a nip portion .
(10) The blade material for an electrophotographic apparatus or the blade for an electrophotographic apparatus according to (9) , which has an irregular cross section.
(11) The blade material for an electrophotographic apparatus or the blade for an electrophotographic apparatus according to (9) or (10) , wherein the blade is any one of a cleaning blade, a developing blade, and a charging blade.

1. Since the liquid synthetic resin forming the multilayer is integrally cured and formed, it is possible to greatly improve the adhesive strength between different kinds of synthetic resins used for the blade material.
2. Since it is built on the mold surface, the smoothness and edge accuracy of the contact part of the blade can be obtained, and the cleaning property can be improved.
3. By manufacturing a multi-layer blade integrally formed with the core metal, a support member, a multi-layer blade, and a highly accurate blade can be obtained.
4). Multi-layering can increase the degree of freedom such as edge portions or intermediate portions by controlling the beating-like application and casting position.
5). Since the characteristics of the edge part and base part can be changed freely, it is possible to design a blade with functional separation.
6). A toner cleaning blade, a developing blade, or a charging blade for an electrophotographic apparatus could be provided.
7). The multilayered synthetic resin can be heat-molded and the metal support member can be joined at the same time, and the manufacturing process can be performed easily and accurately.

The present invention relates to a method for producing a synthetic resin blade material in which synthetic resins having different compositions are multilayered, a synthetic resin blade material, in particular, a toner cleaning blade or a developing blade used in an electrophotographic apparatus, a charging blade, It is suitable for a blade integrally joined to a blade material and a support and a manufacturing method thereof.
After moving the head for discharging the liquid synthetic resin, which is a thermosetting resin, to a position corresponding to the partial layer, or by casting so that the thermosetting resin is applied in a bead shape by moving the mold, A split mold is assembled, a thermosetting resin as a base is cast, and is integrally formed in a heating furnace. The integrally formed blade material is disassembled and taken out from the split mold, cut into a predetermined size, and used as a blade. When assembling the mold, a part of the support is set inside the cavity, and the base forming resin is cast, so that the support and the blade rubber body can be integrally joined.

<Process>
The blade manufacturing method according to the present invention is a mold circulation step described below. The process is shown in FIG.
First, the mold is cleaned and a release agent is applied to the surface of the portion that is in contact with the thermosetting resin (A, B). If necessary, a support member made of metal or the like is fixed to the mold in advance (C) before applying the resin corresponding to the partial layer. In this case, a support member detection device for detecting whether or not a metal serving as a support member is inserted into a predetermined position may be provided if necessary for continuous production of the blade material. Next, a resin corresponding to the bead-like partial layer is applied from the synthetic resin liquid discharge head to the surface of one split mold (D). After that, a blade-shaped split mold is assembled (E), and a thermosetting resin as a base member is cast (F). Next, the liquid synthetic resin is heated and cured while the split mold filled with the thermosetting resin liquid is conveyed to an oven for thermal crosslinking to integrally mold liquid synthetic resins having different compositions (G). In the metal support member fixed to the mold at the time of heat curing, the synthetic resin and the support member are integrated and heat cured. Thereafter, the split mold is disassembled and the blade is taken out (H, I). The metal mold after the blade material is taken out is a circulation process in which the liquid synthetic resin can be filled and repeatedly used (J) by cleaning again.

  The split mold can be cleaned by any method. Specifically, the split mold is placed at a predetermined position with the cleaning surface facing upward as proposed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-114972. You may use the apparatus which cleans the surface of the said metal mold | die by making a flat brush contact | abut on the upper surface of a metal mold | die, and making it reciprocate in the length direction of the metal mold | die. A mold release agent may be used on the surface of the cleaned mold so that the thermosetting synthetic resin can be easily separated from the mold.

<Mold>
FIG. 5 shows a schematic sectional view of the split mold structure.
The mold 10 includes left and right divided molds 10a and 10b. In the middle of the divided molds 10a and 10b, a projecting member for sandwiching the core metal A serving as a support member is formed. The split molds 10a and 10b are disposed between the base plate 13, the side wall 14 standing on the left and right of the base plate 13, and the inclined side wall 15, and the mold clamping member 16 is pushed in a wedge shape into the inclined side wall 15 side. Thus, the mold is clamped and assembled. A blade is molded by casting a synthetic resin serving as a base into a space formed between the two divided molds 10a and 10b.
The example shown in FIG. 5 shows an example in which the cored bar A is arranged and the resin heat molding and the bonding of the cored bar are performed simultaneously. It is also possible to manufacture a blade by molding a blade material in which the resin is cured without disposing the core metal A, and then joining the support member.
FIG. 6 shows a state in which the resin forming the divided layer is discharged from one of the divided molds (10a or 10b) from the discharge head 8 in a longitudinal direction and a bead shape. As the partial layer casting means, for example, a method of moving the ejection head and two methods of moving the split mold can be adopted.

FIG. 7 shows an outline of the ejection head movement type, and FIG. 8 shows an outline of the split mold movement type.
The apparatus 11 for casting into the divided mold is one in which a holding screw 18 having a slide plate 12 mounted thereon is rotated by a drive motor M and moved. The slide plate 12 is guided by two guide rods. As the drive motor M, a servo motor capable of switching the rotation direction forward and reverse and controlling the rotation speed is used, and the control itself is performed by computer control equipped with a limit switch and the like.
In the type in which the ejection head 8 is moved, the ejection head 8 is connected to the slide plate 12. In the type in which the divided mold 10 a is moved, the divided mold 10 a (or 10 b) is connected to the slide plate 12. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 5, a mold is assembled, a base resin is cast from above, heat-cured, and molded. The obtained blade resin material is suitable for a blade material for electrophotography.
The liquid synthetic resin used is preferably a thermosetting synthetic resin, for example, a thermosetting polyurethane resin. A resin having a composition corresponding to physical properties such as hardness and elasticity is used. Additives can also be added.

The following description will focus on the blade for an electrophotographic apparatus.
1. Outline of Blade for Electrophotographic Apparatus A blade for toner cleaning or a developing blade for charging toner is generally used, and is formed by joining a base made of an elastic rubber body made of synthetic resin and made of metal. As the synthetic resin, thermosetting polyurethane is mainly used.
In the cleaning blade, an elastic rubber member 3 is joined to one end portion of a support member 4 made of metal or the like. FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the cleaning blade, and FIG. 2 shows a cross section. In the illustrated example, an example of a multilayer elastic rubber member 3 in which the edge portion 1 that rubs and scrapes off the toner is different from the base member 2 is shown. FIG. 3 shows an example of a variation in a cross-sectional view.
In the present invention, it is possible to form a partial layer coated in a bead shape so as to penetrate into a part of the base layer as viewed in cross section.

The cleaning blade shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is joined to the elastic rubber member 3 in a state where a part of the support member 4 is inserted. In the illustrated example, an example of a multilayer elastic rubber member in which the edge portion 1 that rubs and scrapes off the toner is different from the base member 2 is shown.
The layer configuration that can be realized by the present invention is not particularly limited, and an example of the layer configuration is shown in FIG. 3 as a cross-sectional display. 3A to 3E show an example in which a partial layer 1 (hereinafter also referred to as “nip portion”) is provided on a part of the base layer 2. (A)-(c) is an example which the partial layer 1 can provide in the arbitrary positions from the edge part of a front-end | tip to the side center. Although the drawing shows up to the center of the side, naturally it can be arbitrarily set up to the right end side. (D) and (e) show examples in which the size of the partial layer 2 can be changed. By adjusting the casting amount, the ratio between the partial layer and the base layer can be changed.
(F) (g) has shown the example which provided the partial layer 2 in a part of cleaning blade which is a deformed cross section. (H) shows an example in which the bottom surface of the partial layer 2 is formed in a slightly convex shape. (F) to (h) can be formed by changing the shape of the molding die. In the examples of (f) and (g), a step 6 corresponding to Δ2 is formed on the partial layer side, and a step 7 corresponding to Δ3 is formed on the side opposite to the partial layer in the thickness of the base layer. The example of (h) is an example in which the partial layer 1 is formed by protruding the step 5 of Δ1. Further, by forming a roughened portion on the mold surface by sandblasting, polishing, etching or the like, it is possible to manufacture a blade having a roughened surface transferred thereto.
In addition to the example shown in FIG. 3, a plurality of partial layers may be provided. Alternatively, it can be formed in two layers on the entire surface.
An example of forming the partial layer in an arc shape is schematically shown in FIGS. This example is a schematic example and is not limited thereto. FIG. 10 shows an elastic rubber member provided with a base layer 2 and an arc-shaped partial layer 1. The arc is schematically treated as an arc as follows. It can be assumed that the arc-shaped partial layer 1 is a partial arc having an imaginary radius R, twice the chord X is wide, and the height is the height Y of the arc. As shown in FIG. 9, trimming can be performed so that the width of the partial layer is X.

  The basic manufacturing method used in this manufacturing method is to apply a liquid raw material such as polyurethane for forming a partial layer to the surface of one of the split molds in advance from the discharge head, and then assemble a split mold to form a base liquid. A synthetic resin is injected, and integrally molded with a metal support member, and then the mold is divided and taken out, and supplied to a subsequent process.

The position, width and thickness of the resin layer can be controlled by the position and supply amount of the liquid synthetic resin to be cast for the partial layer, the composition and type of the liquid synthetic resin, and the like. The liquid synthetic resin to be cast later will supply an amount necessary for filling the entire mold, and forms a base layer.
When the preceding liquid synthetic resin is cast at a position corresponding to the blade tip, a blade material in which a different material is provided on the edge portion can be manufactured. When casting in the middle part, a different material can be provided in the middle of the blade material. When thinly coated and cast on the entire surface of one of the divided molds, a blade material having two layers or multiple layers on the entire surface can be manufactured.

A fluid may be added to the liquid synthetic resin applied to the bead shape or the entire surface for forming the partial layer to control the flow. When a part of the split mold is roughened, a blade material having a surface reflecting the rough surface can be produced.
Blade materials with a different material layer on the edge are suitable for cleaning blades that contact the edge, and those with a different material layer in the middle are used as a nip to rub the toner. Suitable for developing blade material and charged blade material.
In addition, by combining different materials, the physical property value of the elastic rubber can be controlled, so that it is possible to improve the temperature change suitability such as the high temperature range and the low temperature range, or wear resistance. Furthermore, by adding variants, it is possible to diversify the control of physical property values.

  Synthetic resin cast in the form of a bead on the surface of one split mold molds the mold, casts the synthetic resin for the base, and heats integrally with the metal support member to proceed with curing polymerization Thus, a two-layered blade having excellent adhesion at the interface between different synthetic resins can be obtained. The size of the blade material obtained in the present invention can satisfy both the width and thickness of the developing blade and the cleaning blade that are conventionally used.

2 Liquid synthetic resin The synthetic resin used in the present invention is mainly a thermosetting polyurethane resin. In particular, a non-solvent two-component thermosetting polyurethane is suitable. Select and design isocyanates and polyols, crosslinking agents, and catalysts that satisfy these conditions. In the post-removal step, secondary cross-linking and aging steps can be performed.

Examples of the additive component include a lubricant, a conductivity imparting agent, and abrasive particles.
Examples of the lubricant include silicon compounds such as polytetrafluoroethylene, boron nitride, graphite, molybdenum disulfide, and polydimethylsiloxane.
The conductivity imparting substance is not particularly limited, but carbon black such as ketjen black, acetylene black, furnace black, etc., electron conductive substances such as graphite, metal filler, metal oxide whisker, metal soap, An ion conductive substance such as perchlorate can be used alone or in combination of two or more kinds, and is applied to a developing blade or a charging blade.
The abrasive particles are applied to a blade used for the purpose of refreshing the surface of a mating material that comes into contact with the photosensitive member or the like.

  A bifunctional polyol having a number average molecular weight of 1000 to 3000, a trifunctional polyol having a number average molecular weight of 92 to 980, and a high molecular weight polyol component mixed in at least one of a liquid material of a urethane prepolymer and a liquid material of a crosslinking agent, Is mixed with a polyol having an average functional group number of 2.02 to 2.20 and a diisocyanate compound having an isocyanate group content of 5 to 20% to prepare a prepolymer, and the prepolymer is mixed with an OH group / NCO. A polyurethane liquid (uncured polyurethane composition) is prepared by mixing the cross-linking agent in an amount such that the equivalent ratio of groups is 0.90 to 1.05 at 40 to 70 ° C.

The number average molecular weight of the high molecular weight polyol component is preferably in the range of 1000 to 3000. By casting this composition, the reaction is carried out smoothly, and the properties of the resulting blade are also preferred. That is, the number average molecular weight of the bifunctional polyol used is in the range of 1000 to 3000, and if it is less than 1000, the finished urethane rubber becomes too hard to obtain the necessary physical properties (flexibility). If it exceeds 1, the viscosity at the time of molding is high, and it becomes difficult to perform casting.
In addition, when the average number of functional groups (f) is f = 1, it becomes monool, so that it does not polymerize, and when f ≧ 5, it becomes too polyfunctional, so that the viscosity of the polymer increases and the physical properties decrease.

  The following can be used as a component for producing the polyurethane elastomer according to the present invention. High molecular weight polyols include polyoxyalkylene glycols such as polyethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol and polyoxytetramethylene glycol, or polyether-type polyols and adipic acid of alkylene oxide adducts such as bisphenol A, glycerin ethylene oxide and propylene oxide. , Obtained by polymerization reaction of dibasic acids such as phthalic anhydride, isophthalic acid, maleic acid and fumaric acid with glycols such as ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, 1,4 butanediol, 1,6 hexanediol and trimethylolpropane Examples thereof include polyester polyols, polycaprolactone diols, and polycarbonate diols.

  Examples of the diisocyanate compound include tolylene diisocyanate, 4,4 diphenylmethane diisocyanate, hexamethylene diisocyanate, isophorone diisocyanate, 1,4 cyclohexane diisocyanate, and the like. As chain extenders, low molecular weight diols such as ethylene glycol, 1,4 butanediol, diethylene glycol, 1,6 hexanediol, neopentyl glycol, ethylenediamine, hexamethylenediamine, isophoronediamine, 3,3′dichloro-4,4 ′ And diamines such as -diaminodiphenylmethane. Further, trimethylolpropane, triethanolamine, triisopropanolamine, glycerin, and these ethylene oxide and propylene oxide adducts may be added as a polyfunctional component as necessary.

  In the production of the above polyurethane, the equivalent ratio of OH group / NCO group is preferably 0.8 to 1.05, preferably 0.90 to 1.05 in view of the physical properties of the polyurethane to be produced. Reaction accelerators such as general amine compounds and organotin compounds are used as necessary. For example, an imidazole derivative is mentioned as a reaction accelerator. Specific examples thereof include 2-methylimidazole and 1,2dimethylimidazole which are highly dependent on reaction temperature in terms of chemical structure.

  Such a reaction accelerator is used in an amount of 0.01 to 0.5 parts by weight, preferably 0.05 to 0.3 parts by weight, based on 100 parts by weight of the prepolymer as an effective amount. Desirably, those having a temperature sensitivity or a slow-acting property can be preferably used because the usable time of the mixed resin can be increased and the demolding time is shortened. Specific examples thereof include 1,8-diazabicyclo (5,4,0) undecene-7-organic acid salt called block amine, 1,5-diazabicyclo (4,3,0) nonene-5-organic acid. Examples thereof include a salt or a mixture thereof.

  Although the two-component thermosetting polyurethane resin is illustrated in detail, the blade resin that can be used in the present invention is not limited to this. Either a thermoplastic resin or a thermosetting resin can be used. The non-solvent type which does not contain a solvent from an environmental viewpoint etc. is preferable.

  By blending these synthetic resin components, a resin composition to be a partial layer and a resin composition to be a base layer are prepared and used. In general, a synthetic resin serving as a partial layer used in an edge portion or a nip portion is designed to have high hardness and high resilience, and a resin used in the base layer is designed to have lower hardness and low resilience than the edge layer.

[Example of cleaning blade]
The cleaning blade shown in FIG. 1 is an example of a cleaning blade in which an elastic rubber member composed of a nip layer portion and another base layer portion is manufactured with the following composition. This is one in which a cleaning blade for an electrophotographic apparatus is produced by integrally molding with a support member made of a plated steel plate, and the size is 320 mm × 15 mm × 2 mm. In Examples 1 to 6, a base layer and a nip layer were formed using the following resins A to G. Comparative Examples 1-3 are examples in which no partial layer is provided. For each resin, 1,5-diazabicyclo (4,3,0) nonene-5 octylate was added as a catalyst to the crosslinking agent to a concentration of 500 ppm based on the blend.
For use as a cleaning blade, after forming as shown in FIG. 3B, a predetermined position near the center of the nip layer was cut with a blade to form an edge.
The obtained cleaning blade for an electrophotographic apparatus was mounted on a commercially available plain paper copying machine (using an organic photoreceptor, speed 25 sheets / min), and a printing test was performed. The print test is terminated at the normal temperature (23 ° C.) after every 100 sheets, and when the streaks due to the toner slip are found on the printed matter, the print test is performed. Recorded. If no streak occurred even after printing 40000 sheets, the test was terminated.
Further, in cleaning blade examples 1 to 3, it was confirmed whether or not an abnormal noise (squeal) was generated when the inside of the apparatus reached 50 to 55 ° C. The results are shown in Table 2. Further, the cleaning blade examples 4 to 6 were each subjected to a printing test at a low temperature (10 ° C.). The results are shown in Table 1.

<Nip layer (edge)>
・ Polyurethane A
100 parts by weight of ethylene adipate-MDI prepolymer (NCO content 8.0%),
Cross-linking agent (1,4-butanediol: trimethylolpropane: ethylene glycol = 80: 10: 10) 7.6 parts by weight, polyurethane B
100 parts by weight of butylene adipate-TDI prepolymer (NCO content 3.1%),
8.7 parts by weight of cross-linking agent (3,3′dichloro-4,4′-diaminodiphenylmethane) polyurethane C
100 parts by weight of caprolactam-TDI prepolymer (NCO content 3.3%),
9.3 parts by weight of crosslinking agent (3,3′dichloro-4,4′-diaminodiphenylmethane), polyurethane D
100 parts by weight of ethylene adipate-MDI prepolymer (NCO content 16.5%),
47 parts by weight of polyethylene adipate,
Crosslinking agent (1,4-butanediol: trimethylolpropane = 80: 20) 14.4 parts by weight, polyurethane E
100 parts by weight of ethylene adipate-MDI prepolymer (NCO content 16.5%),
63 parts by weight of polyethylene adipate,
Cross-linking agent (1,4-butanediol: trimethylolpropane = 70: 30) 13.7 parts by weight

<Base layer>
・ Polyurethane F
100 parts by weight of ethylene adipate-MDI prepolymer (NCO content 16.5%),
92 parts by weight of polyethylene adipate
Cross-linking agent (1,4-butanediol: trimethylolpropane = 60: 40) 11.6 parts by weight, polyurethane G
100 parts by weight of caprolactam-MDI prepolymer (NCO content 13.0%),
58 parts by weight of polycaprolactam,
Cross-linking agent (1,4-butanediol: trimethylolpropane = 65: 35) 9.5 parts by weight

Examples 1 to 3 The cleaning blade is a cleaning blade for an electrophotographic apparatus that can satisfactorily scrape both small toner and spherical toner, and can suppress abnormal noise (squeal) even at high temperatures. there were. Examples 4 to 6 The cleaning blade was a cleaning blade capable of satisfactorily scraping off both the small-diameter toner and the spherical toner at low temperatures and at ordinary temperatures.

Example of perspective view of cleaning blade Sectional view of the cleaning blade shown in FIG. Cross-sectional views of various cleaning blades (a) Example of a cleaning blade having a partial layer formed in an edge shape (b) Example of a cleaning blade having an arc-shaped partial layer formed in an intermediate portion (c) An arc-shaped partial layer formed in an intermediate portion Example of cleaning blade (d) Example of cleaning blade with large partial layer (e) Example of cleaning blade with small partial layer (f) Example of cleaning blade with irregular section (g) Cleaning blade with irregular section (H) Example of cleaning blade with partial layer ejected Process chart Sectional diagram of split mold assembly Schematic diagram of partial layer casting in a bead shape Partial layer casting, discharge head moving type schematic Partial layer casting, split mold transfer type schematic Schematic design for forming arc-shaped partial layers Schematic design for forming arc-shaped partial layers

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Partial layer 2 Base layer 3 Synthetic resin blade raw material 4 Support member 8 Discharge head 9 Liquid synthetic resin 10 cast into a bead shape Mold 10a Split mold 10b Split mold 11 Split mold casting apparatus 12 Slide plate 13 Base Plate 14 Side wall 15 Inclined side wall 16 Clamping member 17 Ball screw 18 Guide rod A Core

Claims (11)

In the manufacturing method of the multi-layer blade for an electrophotographic apparatus, a liquid synthetic resin forming a partial layer is poured into a bead shape having a cross section of an arc in one mold of a split mold, and then the mold is assembled. A method for producing a blade material, comprising casting a liquid synthetic resin forming a base layer, and simultaneously heating and curing both resins to form a blade material. In the method for producing a multilayer blade for an electrophotographic apparatus, after one mold of a split mold is cast into a bead shape having a cross section of an arc-shaped liquid synthetic resin to form a partial layer , A method for producing a blade, characterized by casting a liquid synthetic resin as a base, heat-curing both resins simultaneously and integrally molding a blade material on a support.   The blade material according to claim 1 or the method of manufacturing a blade according to claim 2, wherein the partial layer shape is formed into an arcuate cross-sectional shape.   4. A blade material or a method for producing a blade according to claim 1, wherein the blade material is a cleaning blade.   4. A blade material or a method for producing a blade according to claim 1, wherein the blade material is a developing blade.   The blade material or the blade manufacturing method according to claim 1, wherein the blade material is a charging blade. A blade material or blade manufacturing method using a split mold,
A synthetic resin supply means having a discharge head for casting and applying a raw liquid synthetic resin to one mold surface in a bead shape and a discharge head for discharging a liquid synthetic resin as a base ,
The ejection head to be cast and applied in a bead shape is fixed at a fixed position and the blade mold is conveyed in the longitudinal direction, or the ejection head to be cast and applied in a bead shape is fixed to the longitudinal direction have a means for transporting direction,
After casting the liquid synthetic resin that has an arc-shaped cross section and forms a partial layer in a bead shape, mold the mold, cast the liquid synthetic resin that forms the base layer, and heat and cure both resins simultaneously. A blade material or a method of manufacturing a blade.   The method for producing a blade material or a blade according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the liquid synthetic resin is a non-solvent type thermosetting polyurethane resin. In the blade for an electrophotographic apparatus integrally molded with the hardening of the liquid resin for forming the blade material for the electrophotographic apparatus on the metal support member,
The blade material is formed by simultaneously molding, curing and laminating liquid non-solvent type thermosetting polyurethane raw materials of different compositions,
A synthetic resin material in which the arc-shaped partial layer and the other base layer are different in the longitudinal direction ,
An electrophotographic blade material or an electrophotographic blade, wherein the partial layer is an edge portion or a nip portion . The blade material for an electrophotographic apparatus or the blade for an electrophotographic apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the blade material has an irregular cross section. The blade material for an electrophotographic apparatus or the blade for an electrophotographic apparatus according to claim 9 or 10 , wherein the blade is any one of a cleaning blade, a developing blade, and a charging blade.

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